Preop CPET testing and exercise training in colorectal patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and pre-operative exercise training in patients undergoing major surgery for colorectal cancer
IRAS ID
129902
Contact name
Kate Manley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Research summary
An important factor influencing recovery following major surgery has been identified as pre-operative cardiopulmonary fitness which can be reliably assessed using Cardiopulmonary Fitness Testing (CPET). CPET is an objective method of evaluating oxygen transport and utilisation during a dynamic exercise challenge, and reflects the ability of the cardiopulmonary system to deliver oxygen to the tissues under conditions of stress. Measurements taken during testing (CPET variables) can be gathered to determine the efficiency of the heart and the lungs at supplying the oxygen demands of the body. This study aims to investigate the role of CPET testing in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and to discover how CPET variables can be used to predict post-operative outcomes such as recovery time and post-operative complication rates in patients undergoing major colorectal and urological procedures. This will allow clinicians to identify patients most at-risk of complications/protracted hospital stay, and to determine the correct level of perioperative care required. Pre-operatively, CPET data will be gathered from participants in the trial, who will then be followed post-surgery to determine outcomes.
The second part of this study involves examining the role of exercise training or “prehabilitation” for optimising pre-operative function to counter the physiological stress of surgery in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancers. The study will determine the feasibility of implementing a structured, supervised exercise programme for patients awaiting elective colorectal cancer surgery. The results of this study will be used to inform a larger randomised controlled trial to examine the influence of exercise on CPET variables and postoperative outcomes.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0319
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion